Maja Zarić, Chair of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), participated as a panelist in the “Democratic Debates” of the Council of Europe hackathon  “Outsmart Disinformation, Protect Free Speech,” held on 20 June 2025 in Strasbourg.

Speaking during the first Democratic Debate on “Disinformation and Gender Equality,” Zarić addressed the growing use of disinformation to target women in public life and undermine democratic values. She emphasized the need for gender-sensitive responses to digital threats and called for stronger support structures for women facing online abuse.

Zarić also presented the relevant work of the CDMSI and highlighted key Council of Europe standards on information integrity, gender equality and the media. She stressed the need for member states to continue working towards actively implementing these standards to foster gender equality and strengthen democracy.

The hackathon brought together activists, policymakers, innovators, and creatives to co‑design forward‑looking solutions aimed at countering disinformation, protecting free speech, and strengthening democratic resilience in the rapidly evolving digital age.